BREAST AUGMENTATION SURGERY - A WOMENS HEALTH ISSUE

Surgery to increase breast size is a common procedure. In this paper w e examine the reasons why women choose to undergo the procedure, the h istory of breast enhancement, current surgical approaches, possible co mplications and their treatment. Driving forces behind the choice to h ave augmentation surgery appear to be related to feelings of low self- esteem and self-confidence. Although there is a large literature relat ed to breast augmentation, little of it is research-based. The researc h that there is focuses on complications and their treatment, with an emphasis on capsular contracture. Few of the studies are long-term, al though complications have been noted as long as 25 years after initial implantation. There is a need for research into the experience of wom en undergoing augmentation mammaplasty but, perhaps more importantly, there is also a need to examine ways in which women can be helped to a ccept themselves as they are.